Mysore/Mysuru: The CSIR Jigyasa programme is a major initiative taken up by CSIR at National-level, during its Platinum Jubilee Year celebrations. It is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of new India and Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) of Scientific Community and Institutions.

This core objective of Jigyasa is to connect school students and scientists to extend student’s classroom learning with well-planned research laboratory-based learning. This initiative intends to promote scientific temper among students through the students-scientist connect programmes.

As part of its Jigyasa activities, CSIR-CFTRI recently conducted  a Rural Outreach Programme with the theme ‘CSIR-CFTRI on Wheels’ to showcase and disseminate knowledge on food related processes and technologies to school students and teachers.

During the programme, Scientists, technical staff and research students visited Keelanapura Government High School and demonstrated the different steps in food processing (tomato processing from making to packing) live to the students and teachers, on a Mobile Food-Processing Unit, developed by the premier Institute.  

While flagging-off the Mobile Processing Unit, Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh,  Director, CSIR-CFTRI, emphasised the Institute’s commitment to disseminating knowledge and raising awareness on Food Processing and Food Science and Technology to cater to the needs of the public through its various out-reach programmes including Jigyasa. She said, students are nation’s future and empowering them with scientific information through initiatives like Jigyasa can help in building a strong nation. The Director also said that the mobile-food processing unit developed by the Institute, will be travelling to other places to demonstrate technologies of CFTRI to farmers/SHGs and FPOs, and encourage them to value-add their produce and become Agripreneurs.

The scientific staff of CFTRI interacted with the students and highlighted the role of scientific and technological interventions that can contribute to value-addition and prevent post-harvest losses of agricultural produce and demonstrated Tomato Processing in Mobile Food Processing Unit.

In addition, to emphasise the role of Food Safety and Quality, simple experiments to detect food adulteration in commonly consumed products such as milk, tea powder, sweets and savouries, pulses and spices, etc., was also demonstrated.

Nearly 222 students and 15 teachers from higher primary and high school, participated.

The event also had active participation from the village head and other members of Keelanapura, who appreciated the initiative of CFTRI and reiterated the need for more such activities for the benefit of students, especially those from the  rural background.

This programme was facilitated by Agastya Foundation, an NGO for empowering education. The day-long activity ended with distribution of protein-dense spirulina chikki, fresh-press juice and other refreshments to the students and teachers.

Under the Jigyasa initiative, CSIR-CFTRI has  so far conducted over 35 programmes in the year 2022-23, benefiting more than 5,000 students and 300 teachers.